'09 AL C/PF DeMarcus Cousins (Kentucky Verbal)

[DaytonBuck]

Committed to UAB

[ScriptOhio]

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A month earlier, another top-flight recruit turned down the big boys to help his hometown team. LeFlore (Mobile, Ala.) High center DeMarcus Cousins, who spent most of his childhood in Birmingham, committed to Alabama-Birmingham in spite of interest from Memphis and a top-10 overall ranking in the class of 2009 by Rivals.com.
Though the low-key White and the fiery Cousins have completely different games and personalities, they do share one trait. They are cornerstone recruits for a pair of coaches who are letting their actions prove that they might have been run out of their previous jobs -- both at iconic programs -- a tad too early.
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Cousins also bonded with the first coach to recruit him hard. Three years ago, Mike Davis, the Alabama native charged with leading Indiana into the post-Bobby Knight era, discovered the big man from his home state and began pitching the Hoosiers. In 2006, the relationship between Davis and Indiana crumbled. He resigned and took over at UAB. The Blazers went 15-16 in Davis' first season and 23-11 in his second. Indiana hired Kelvin Sampson.
In the meantime, Cousins was thrown off his high school team for disciplinary reasons. (It wasn't a legal issue, said Cousins, who declined to reveal specifics.) That scared off some college coaches. "A lot of schools stopped recruiting me," the 6-11, 269-pound Cousins said Monday. "Mike Davis didn't." Cousins understands some coaches may have reservations about him, but he appreciates the fact that Davis gave him advice to help guide him through his troubles. "I don't take it personally," Cousins said. "They're just doing their jobs. Some of them think I'm a headcase. ... I'm OK."
Some of those coaches resumed their recruitment of Cousins, but he wanted to reward Davis for his loyalty with a commitment. Now, Cousins hopes to team with Davis to help make UAB a legitimate challenger to the Conference USA throne currently occupied by Memphis. "Birmingham is where I'm from," Cousins said. "I want to represent. If we can bring a championship back home, that would be big for me and my city."

Entire article: White, Cousins looking to make help build programs at home - Andy Staples - SI.com

[LitlBuck]

Rivals

Verify change in verbal to Memphis.

I saw on ESPN bottom line last night that Cousins has changed his verbal to Memphis. They are loading up for 2009.

[LitlBuck]

Saw him play in the McDonald's All-Star game last night and the guy is a beast. In addition from his inside play, he can also shoot the ball from the outside. Wherever he goes, you will only be there for one year.

[LitlBuck]

Rivals

Now off to Kentucky. He can't seem to make up his mind but he must like Johnny C.